Handling beam for heavy elongate objects

ABSTRACT

A simple and reliable missile handling beam assembly readily engageable with conventional missile supporting lug arrangements and which, when in place, visually indicates that it is positively locked and cannot inadvertently be released. The assembly is such that it does not impose any stress on the object being handled, since a lifting hook can be located in a position closest to the center of gravity of the load, and hence the attitude of the object can be easily controlled during the lifting and lowering movements.

United States Patent 1191 Cole [ Oct. 2, 1973 HANDLING BEAM FOR HEAVY ELONGATE OBJECTS [76] Inventor: Clyde C. Cole, 5298 Harvard St.,

Ventura, Calif. 93003 [22] Filed: Apr. 10, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.: 242,603

[52] US. Cl 294/81 R [51] B66c 1/66 [58] Field of Search 294/66 R, 67 R, 67 A, 294/67 AA, 67 B, 67 BB, 67 DA, 78 R, 79, 81 R, 81 SF, 90

[56] References Cited v UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,206.243 9/1965 Miles 294/81 R 2,905,501 9/1959 Jakubowski 294/81 R 3,154,338 10/1964 Leach 294/88 Primary ExaminerEvon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-Johnny D. Cherry Att0rney-Richard S. Sciascia et al.

57 ABSTRACT A simple and reliable missile handling beam assembly readily engageable with conventional missile supporting lug arrangements and which, when in place, visually indicates that it is positively locked and cannot inadvertently be released. The assembly is such that it does not impose any stress on the object being handled, since a lifting hook can be located in a position closest to the center of gravity of the load, and hence the attitude of the object can be easily controlled during the lifting and lowering movements.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEB BET 21975 Nm/ qm m llilFilJl HANDLING BEAM FOR HEAVY ELONGATE OBJECTS STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon ortherefor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to devices for handling missiles and in particular to a handling beam as- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A handling beam assembly engageable with conventional missile supporting lug arrangements which visually indicates that the lug is positively locked and cannot be accidentally released. A lifting hook may be located near the center of gravity of the load which results in facile control of the missile during lifting and lowering functions.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a strong and sturdy missile handling beam assembly which is readily engageable with conventional missile supporting lug arrangements.

It is another object of this invention to provide a missile handling beam assembly which visibly indicates that a missile supporting lug is positively locked to the handling beam and cannot be accidentally released.

Another object is to provide a missile handling device which facilitates attitude control during lifting and lowering movements.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following'detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a top plan view'of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along the line 4"4 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing, it will be seen tha't the'device comprises an elongate beam of rectangular cross-section, the interior of which is mostly open and is provided with spaced gusset and reinforcements to assure maximum strength with minimum weight penalty. In a preferred form it includes an elongate U- shaped channel member 12 having widely spaced forwardly directed fingers l4 and 16 adapted to engage in tongue-and-groove relationship with the forward mounting lug of a missile to be supported.

The after end of beam 10 is provided with rearwardly directed fingers l8 and 20 which are more closely spaced together and are adapted to engage in tongueand-groove relationship with the rear lug ofa missile to be supported.

The top surface of beam 10 has a pair of lift handles 46, one of which is illustrated, to facilitate manual movement of the beam 10 as required. A medially aligned elongate slot 22 is also positioned on the top surface of beam 10 extending parallel to the axis thereof and adapted to receive a lift hook, not illustrated, which can engage the shaft portion 24 of a roller type lift pin 26. This pin is transversely oriented and spans the width of slot 22. The slot 22 is located so as to extend forward and aft of the center of gravity point or lifting point of the missile being handled and shaft 24 is receivable in selected pairs of rounded notches 280, b, c, d or e as shown. In order to ensure that the roller lift pin 26 normally stays positioned in a selected notch, two roller lift pin support springs 30 and 32 are arranged to contact the lower surface of end flanges 34 and 36 respectively of roller pin 26. These springs are retained in place in inturned pin index plates 31 and 33 as illustrated and may be formed of round wire incorporating a sine wave" bend if required.

An important feature of the present invention is the easy and reliable manner in which it may be connected to the forward and aft lugs ofa missile to be supported. In such operation, the spaced rear fingers 18 and 20 are first moved into tongue-and-groove relationship with the rear missile lug, the lug being moved forward to the full extent of slot 38. To do so, latch tongue 40 is raised by forward movement of latch tongue manipulating handle 42 so as to admit the rear missile lug into the space provided thereunder.

Thereafter, the forward end of the beam 10 is lowered into alignment with the widely spaced grooves of the forward missile handling lug and the entire beam 10 is then shifted forwardly to cause fingers l4 and 16 to enter the slots of such lug. Near the end of such forward movement, the normally raised lock tongue'40, having permitted the rear lug to slide out from thereunder, is forced to its down position by latch spring 44, thereby effectively locking the fingers at both ends of the beam in their lug engaging positions and preventing rearward displacement of the beam. This effectively prevents unintentional disengagement of the beam 10 from the lug members.

It will be obvious that roller lift pin 26 can readily be moved forwardly and rearwardly about the center of gravity point of the load and that a suitable number of notches 28 may be provided to facilitate this maneuver.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that there is provided an exceptionally strong, sturdy, rigid strongback type missile handling beam assembly which is readily engageable with conventional missile supporting lug arrangements and which, when in place, visually and audibly indicates that it is positively locked in place so that the load cannot accidentally be released. Furthermore, the readily positioned roller pin 26 arrangemerit assures that a lifting hook can be adjusted to the position closest to the center of gravity of the load. This facilitates controlling the attitude of the missile during its lifting and lowering movement.

lt will be obvious that removal of the beam. from the missile is also easily accomplished since control handle 42 need only be moved forwardly thereby lifting lock tongue 40 clear of the rear missile lug. Thereafter shifting the beam rearwardly only a few inches will clear forward fingers l4 and 16 from the forward missile lug and shifting it forwardly a few inches will clear rear fingers l8 and 20 from the rear missile lug.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A missile handling beam assembly adapted to prevent unintentional disengagement from the missile comprising:

a. an elongate beam of rectangular cross-section, said beam having a medially aligned slot positioned along the top surface thereof;

b. a pair of widely spaced forwardly directed fingers attached to the forward end of said beam and adapted to engage the forward portion of a missile to be supported;

c. a pair of rearwardly directed fingers attached to the aft end of the beam, said fingers being closely spaced together and adapted to engage the rear portion of a missile to be supported;

d. a transversely oriented lift pin spanning the slot in said beam and received in a pair of notches positioned in said beam, said pin adapted to receive a lift hook;

e. a plurality of notches in the beam to enable the lift pin to be moved either forwardly or rearwardly about the center of gravityfor permitting control of the missile attitude during the lifting and lowering movement;

f. a pair of lift pin support springs positioned adjacent the lower surface of said lift pin to ensure that said lift pin stays positioned in a selected notch; and

g. a latch tongue and spring means mounted on the top surface of said beam to prevent rearward movement of the beam and being adapted to lock the fingers at both the front and aft ends of said beam in a missile engaging position for preventing unintentional disengagement of the beam from the missile.

2. The missle handling beam assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein: a pair of handles are mounted on the top surface of said beam to facilitate manual movement thereof. 

1. A missile handling beam assembly adapted to prevent unintentional disengagement from the missile comprising: a. an elongate beam of rectangular cross-section, said beam having a medially aligned slot positioned along the top surface thereof; b. a pair of widely spaced forwardly directed fingers attached to the forward end of said beam and adapted to engage the forward portion of a missile to be supported; c. a pair of rearwardly directed fingers attached to the aft end of the beam, said fingers being closely spaced together and adapted to engage the rear portion of a missile to be supported; d. a transversely oriented lift pin spanning the slot in said beam and received in a pair of notches positioned in said beam, said pin adapted to receive a lift hook; e. a plurality of notches in the beam to enable the lift pin to be moved either forwardly or rearwardly about the center of gravity for permitting control of the missile attitude during the lifting and lowering movement; f. a pair of lift pin support springs positioned adjacent the lower surface of said lift pin to ensure that said lift pin stays positioned in a selected notch; and g. a latch tongue and spring means mounted on the top surface of said beam to prevent rearward movement of the beam and being adapted to lock the fingers at both the front and aft ends of said beam in a missile engaging position for preventing unintentional disengagement of the beam from the missile.
 2. The missle handling beam assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein: a pair of handles are mounted on the top surface of said beam to facilitate manual movement thereof. 